October's Public Programme at the exhibition “Difficult Pasts. Connected Worlds”

The audience programme of the Lasnamäe Pavilion exhibition Difficult Pasts. Connected Worldsinvites visitors to explore themes of solidarity, empathy and the enduring legacy of historical trauma. Recent wars have shifted our understanding of history and highlighted how present-day normalisation of violence often stems from unresolved traumas of the past. The exhibition, curated by Margaret Tali and Ieva Astahovska, brings together challenging, uncomfortable and frequently overlooked histories, including violent conflicts and painful losses, and their long-term impacts. The exhibition is open until 20 October 2024.

You are invited to the following events of the audience programme. All events are free of charge.

Saturday, 5 October 2024 at 14:00–16:00
Workshop How Can Art Connect Us in Difficult Times? at the Lasnamäe Pavilion (Jaan Koorti 24, Tallinn). We will focus on the role of arts and artists, as well as creative processes involved in sharing difficult pasts of individuals, local communities and collective groups. It will begin with a brief introduction followed by participants sharing stories related to their experiences with the challenges of addressing the past, telling their own story, and connecting to others and their stories. Together, we will reflect on how artistic processes or forms can foster mutual empathy and understanding.The workshop will be led by Dr. Katarzyna Bojarska, who teaches in the Contemporary Culture programme at the SWPS University in Warsaw, Poland.

Saturday, 12 October 2024 at 16:00–17:00
Tanel Rander’s performance A German is Coming at the Lasnamäe Pavilion. Tanel Rander’s performative presentation stems from the artist’s curiosity about why hearing the German language makes him feel an urge to stand up and salute. Rander is participating in the exhibition Difficult Pasts. Connected Worlds with his installation Damn Rake, most of which was created last year in Berlin. There, he explored his complex relationship with the German language and sought to understand whether this stems from Estonia’s colonial history or his own unresolved issues. The performance will be conducted in Estonian, English and German, followed by a discussion.

Saturday, 19 October 2024 at 14:00–16:30 
Discussion and presentation of Roma dishes, The Voice and Community Stories of the Roma at the Lasnamäe Pavilion. In Estonia, there are common misconceptions about the Roma community, and they are often seen as outsiders. This event will share stories from the Roma community, including Jaana Kokko’s documented story of Bergitta from the Roma Hill in Valga. Food and its sharing are used to create a communal space. During the event, Jaana Kokko’s film Roma Mountain (2022) will be screened, followed by a discussion moderated by Anette Ross, researcher of Roma culture and language. Also participating will be teacher Farida Tsimbota and artist Jaana Kokko, who has studied the stories of the Roma in the Valga/Valka region.

Saturday, 19 October 2024 at 18:00–19:00 
Quinsy Gario’s performance In the Presence of Blues: Part II at the House of the Blackheads (Pikk street 26, Tallinn). This performance centres around the treatment of the memory of St. Maurice, a Catholic saint of Sudanese origin. Little is known about his life before he sacrificed himself to save a village in the Swiss Alps in the 3rd century. With no surviving drawings of Maurice, all representations of him have been based on the cultural archive of the people and societies portraying him, often reflecting colonial perspectives. In his performance, Gario explores how these images, particularly from the era of African colonisation and the slave trade, influence Maurice’s legacy within the Black community. Quinsy Gario is a visual and performance artist from the Caribbean region, whose work is centred on decolonising memory and its resulting actions.

For more information, visit the website www.kunstihoone.ee!

Additional information:
Madli Ehasalu
Tel: +372  5621 8422
E-mail madli@kunstihoone.ee

Tallinna Art Hall
Jaan Koorti 24, Tallinn
Wed–Sun 12.00–19.00

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